A FORMER Tory councillor has been charged with theft after being accused of stealing £10,000 in his role as an architecture representative.
Jonjo MacNamara, 32, was sacked from his role as North East regional director of the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) for alleged gross misconduct.
Police launched an investigation just days before he was due to stand as a Conservative councillor for Newcastle City Council in May's local elections.
It was said he stole almost £10,000 from the institute over a 12-month period.
Now police have charged Mr MacNamara with theft by an employee and he is due to face a court later this month.
The Conservatives confirmed Mr MacNamara resigned from the party after Riba dismissed him in April.
Mr MacNamara had hoped to contest the South Jesmond ward but did not campaign for the role after the allegations came to light.
Mr MacNamara had been a councillor in North Tyneside, representing the Cullercoats ward from 2006-2010.
He had also been entrusted as the Tory's spokesman for the campaign to get and elected mayor in Newcastle.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Jonjo MacNamara, 32, previously of Jesmond, Newcastle, has been charged with theft by an employee and is due to appear before North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on November 15."
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